Roll tightener

ABSTRACT

An apparatus wherein a driven shaft having a slot in which a web of material is positioned pulls on the web to tighten a roll of the material which has been loosely wound and is locked on a fixed shaft.

United States Patent Hodges, Jr. et al.

11] 3,899,142 [451 Aug. 12, 1975 ROLL TIGHTENER Inventors: James T. Hodges, Jr., Tallmadge;

John B. Braddock, Cuyahoga Falls; George C. Dishman, Stow, all of Ohio Assignee: Sonoco Products Company,

Hartsville, SC.

Filed: Aug. 27, 1973 Appl. N0.: 391,726

US. Cl 242/67.l R; 242/55; 242/75 Int. Cl. B65H 23/06; B65H 77/00 Field of Search 242/55, 67.1 R, 67.1 D, 242/67.2, 67.3 R, 67.4, 75, 75.4, 60, 62, 63, 54 R References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Duvall. 242/67.1 R Carter.... 242/60 Tompkins 242/67.3 R

Houska et a1 242/55 Eischen 242/192 Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz Attorney, Agent, or Firm-C. Gordon McBride ABSTRACT An apparatus wherein a driven shaft having a slot in which a web of material is positioned pulls on the web to tighten a roll of the material which has been loosely wound and is locked on a fixed shaft.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures ROLL TIGHTENER Paper manufacturers have long encountered a problem because the web of paper, as it is made is loosely wound on a core for storage and shipment for final utilization. For unexplained reasons, it frequently occurs that the roll of paper material does not wind as tightly on the core as is necessary for maintaining proper tension on the web of the material being used in subsequent converting operations, nor for shipment and storage of the roll. This is especially true when a web of several inches in Width has been slit to relatively narrow webs of l to 12 inches.

various devices and apparatus have been utilized in the past in an attempt to overcome the noted difficulties with soft rolls. However, these devices are quite cumbersome, expensive of manufacture and incapable of general utilization. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,164,586 relates to a device for winding toilet tissue on a core with such tension that it is properly wound for subsequent use. This device is quite cumbersome and necessarily requires specific frictional forces that would not be applicable for much stronger paper or webs of other material.

In order to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, the instant invention contemplates a framework having a fixed shaft on which the loose roll may be mounted. The framework also supports a driven shaft having a slot therein which receives the end of the web roll. The shaft is rotated to pull the web tightly upon the core on which it was originally wound.

Reference may now be had to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to the same or similar parts and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a side elevational view of the instant invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the instant invention.

FIG. 1 shows roll tightener as having a framework 12 upon which both the roll of web material and the tightening apparatus is mounted. Support frame 12 has base 14 on which is mounted an upright 16. Upright 16 is rigidly attached to base 14 and brace 18 is utilized to insure that upright 16 is perpendicular and that the forces are properly exerted between the framework and its base.

In some instances, the weight of the roll of web material, such as paper, may be such that it will be necessary to apply additional weight 20 to base 14 in order to prevent the tipping or overturning of the apparatus.

Vertical post or frame means 24 fits within upright 16 and is securely fastened therein. A substantially horizontal shaft 26 extends outwardly from vertical post 24 in a direction opposite to that of brace 18. A backup plate 28 is rigidly attached to shaft 26 at any given predetermined location to prevent the loose roll of material from sliding too far inwardly. Shaft 26 has a flattened side or slot 30 therein for receiving wedge 32. Wedge 32 slides in slot 30 and secures the loose roll 34 on shaft 26 in a fixed, non-rotational position.

At the upper end of vertical post 24 is located an upper support table 40. A conventional motor 42, such as an electrical motor, is mounted on the far end of table 40 which extends from vertical post 24 in a direction parallel to brace 18 and opposite to the direction of shaft 26. Motor 42 is conventional and utilizes gear drive 44 for operation of shaft 50. A pair of bearings 46 and 48 are mounted above upright 24 and between motor 42 respectively to support shaft 50 in a substantially horizontal position. Shaft 50, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, has slot 52 therein for receiving the web of material which would extend from loose roll 34 and be positioned in slot 52.

A set of controls 58 is mounted in the vicinity of table 40 on vertical upright 24 to control the speed and torque of motor 42 and is connected with a suitable source of power supply.

It is seen that for operation of the instant invention it is merely necessary to position a loose roll 34 on shaft 26. Wedge 32 is utilized to lock loose roll 34 on shaft 26 to prevent rotation thereof. The loose end of the web of material from which roll 34 is comprised is led up and inserted in slot 52. The controls are manipulated to start rotation of motor 42 and the interconnected shaft 50 such that the extended web is wound thereon. The force of the winding of shaft 50 causes a tightening of roll 34. Once the roll has been properly tightened by winding a portion of the loose end of the web of material around shaft 50, the motor is stopped and wedge 32 removed. Roll 34 is then wound in a reverse direction to wind the loose material about the outer circumference. Once the loose material has been repositioned on roll 34, the roll is removed and the apparatus is in condition for a subsequent operation.

Thus it is apparent that the instant apparatus provides a simple and economical method of overcoming the difficulty encountered by a loose roll. Although the instant invention has been disclosed as being applicable primarily to rolls of paper, it is to be understood that any other material which is wound in relatively narrow rolls may be tightened by utilization of the instant apparatus.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for tightening the convolutions of a loosely wound roll of web material comprising, a base member, frame means extending vertically from said base member, a stationary roll support shaft fixed on and extending horizontally from, one side of said frame means for supporting said loosely wound roll, means for securing said roll to said support shaft in a nonrotatable manner, a rotatable tightening shaft having a webreceiving slot therein mounted above said roll support shaft, electrical motor means mounted on said frame means on the side opposite said support shaft, said motor means being in driving engagement with said tightening shaft.

2. The roll tightening apparatus of claim 1 wherein bearing means are positioned for support of said tightening shaft.

3. The roll tightening apparatus of claim 1 wherein additional weight is located on the side of said base member opposite to that on which said support shaft is located for receiving the roll of material. 

1. Apparatus for tightening the convolutions of a loosely wound roll of web material comprising, a base member, frame means extending vertically from said base member, a stationary roll support shaft fixed on and extending horizontally from, one side of said frame means for supporting said loosely wound roll, means for securing said roll to said support shaft in a nonrotatable manner, a rotatable tightening shaft having a web-receiving slot therein mounted above said roll support shaft, electrical motor means mounted on said frame means on the side opposite said support shaft, said motor means being in driving engagement with said tightening shaft.
 2. The roll tightening apparatus of claim 1 wherein bearing means are positioned for support of said tightening shaft.
 3. The roll tightening apparatus of claim 1 wherein additional weight is located on the side of said base member opposite to that on which said support shaft is located for receiving the roll of material. 